Coin-actuated device



Sept. 28 1926.

C. H. WHEELER COIN ACTUATED DEVICE Filed March 23. 1923 //7//e/7/0/'. V Clyde hf W/w/er, ,0 %/%4 1, ,4 77

Patented Sept. 28, 1926.

near s rs CLYDE H. VTHEELER, 0F MIDLAND PARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTERN ELEC- TRIO COMPANY, INCORPORATED, 013 NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW' YORK.

COIN-ACTUATEID DEVICE.

Application filed March as, 1923. Serial no. 627,107.

This invention relates to coin actuated devices and particularly to a trigger adapted for use therein.

It is an object of the invention to provide a new and improved trigger which is simple in construction, and which is not subject to false operation from jarring.

In coin actuated devices in which the weight of a coin functions tov operate an electrical switching device, it is desirable to make the moving parts light and free from friction in order that the energy stored up in the falling coin will serve to overcome the pressure of the switching springs, thus providing a satisfactory contact pressure even when operating with light and sticky coins. By reducing the friction of the moving parts, however, another difficulty is encountered in that the device becomes sensitive to jarring and thus makes false operation possible.

In accordance with a feature of this in vention the coin trigger is equally balanced on both sides of its pivot point so that it tends to return to its normal position with out suflicient momentum to cause the trigger to rebound. A wire spring is fixed to the trigger in such a way that it exerts a balancing tension on the trigger when it is in its normal position, and which serves to return the trigger to normal when it has been tripped by a falling coin and also acts as a resilient stop to limit the movement of the trigger when it is restored to normal.

These and other features of the invention willappear from a consideration of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a trigger embodying the invention adapted for use in connection with a coin chute, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the trigger disclosed in Fi 1.

The coin actuated device shown in the drawing may be of the type disclosed in Patent No. 1,117,485, granted to O. F. Forsberg November 17, 1914;, in which a coin hopper 5 is provided with longitudir al slots I 6 through which projects the trigger arm 7.

This trigger is pivotally mounted on a pin 8 in the supporting frame 9 which in turn is secured to the electromagnet 1Q. Resting on the projection 11 of the trigger is a rightangled switch arm 12 which is pivotally mounted on pin 13, and is provided with a downwardly extending arm 14 adapted to operate contact springs 15 in a well-known manner. The trigger is also provided with a U-shaped portion 16 extending on the side of the pivot 8 opposite to the trigger arm 7. In accordance with a feature of the invention the arm 7 and the U-shaped portion 16 of the trigger are so proportioned that they balance equally upon the pivot 8 so that the trigger normally rests in such a position that the projection 11 thereon comes directly below the tip of the right-angled switch arm 12. Thus there is no tendency of the trigger to bear to one side and consequently to trip under the force of accidental jars. The trigger is also provided ,with a lug 17 depending from the lower end of the U-shaped portion 16, this lug being provided with a hole which is located directly under the pivot pin 8 when the trigger is in its balanced position. A wire spring 18 is fastened at one endto the plate 9 by means of an adjustable clamp 19, the other end of the spring resting in the hole in the lug 17. The spring 18 is so flexed that it exerts a downward tension on the trigger when the trigger is in the normal balanced position shown in the drawing, thus holding the trigger rather firmly in its balanced position, and will return the trigger to normal when it is moved even slightly from its balanced position.

Upon the falling of a coin through the hopper 5, the arm 7 of the trigger is forced downward, and the projecting portion 11 is. rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, allowing the switch arm 12 together. with its depending arm 14 to be moved under the action of a spring for operating the contact springs 15. When the device is restored, the switch arm 12 is raised free of the projection 11 and the trigger rotates in a clockwise direction under the tension of the spring 18, which exerts a radial tension on the lug 17 of the trigger in such a manner as to hold the tip of the trigger 7 in normal position adjacent the upper portion of the hopper wall bounding the slot '6. Through this arrangement the trigger is brought to rest in normal position without oscillations which always occur in devices where gravity only is relied upon to restore the trigger to normal position. The present invention effectively prevents the switch arm 12 from reengaging the projection 11 before it reaches its normal position Where it would be susceptible to false operation upon slight jarring of the device. The tension of spring 18, however, is adjusted in such a manner that the deposit of a very light coin in the hopper 5 will trip the switch arm 12 and cause the operation of contact springs 15 adapted for establishing the signaling circuit.

Since certain changes in the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to anyone skilled in the art it is to be understood that the invention is not limited except as defined by the scope or" the appended claim.

CLYDE I-I. TVHEELER. 

